Explosive projectile



L.S.CLARKE EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILE.

APPL I 1 57,927 Patented Nov. 2, .1920.

T 2 1 IWMMM Louis 5 Clarke,

m ybndi 75 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS S. CLARKE, OF HAVERFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2,1920.

Application fil ed January 25, 1919. Serial No. 273,001.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LoUIs S. CLARKE, of

Haverford, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in'Explosive Projectiles,whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings. The invention relates to explosive projectilesand is more particularly directed to devices of this character employedin aerial warfare at sea, in attacking vessels, mine fields, etc.

The invention is primarily directed to a projectile intended to bedropped from an aerial craft automatically detonated upon striking thesurface of the water.

My invention is also directed in part to improved self-containedinterchangeable detonating mechanism for explosive ,projectilesoperative upon the principle above stated.

' My invention further comprehends an explosive projectile which may beadvanta geously employed for practice purposes and which, upondetonation, emits a visual signal whereby the aviator may readily gagethe accuracy of his aim.

Other characteristic structural details are also included within thescope of my invention, and these will be readily understood from thefollowing description.

- Referring to the drawings, Figure I, is a view of a bomb partly inelevation and partly in section, conveniently illustrating my invention.

Fig. II, is a view of the rear end .of the device.

Fig. III, is a view of the front end of the same and Fig. IV,illustrates a modified form of the detonator.

As herein shown, the body of the bomb consists of tapered metalliccasing 1, having a weighted rounded forward end 2. The

of junction are integrally united along the line 7, by welding orsoldering. The union between the fins and the casing is preferablyeffected by spot welding as at 8, and detachment positively prevented byslightly offsetting the metal of the fins, as at 9, behind lugs 10-10,integrally formed with the easing at its rear end. This offsetting maybe conveniently accomplished by employing a center punch or Similartool, and the joint thus afforded adds materially to the strength of theunion.

The bomb which I have illustrated is especially adapted for practicepurposes and to this end the casing is centrally bored as indicated at11, to permit .the insertion of a cartridge 12, the flange 13, of whichis seated against a shoulder 14, formed in the bore. At the front end ofthe casing, the bore is of a slightly larger diameter, to receive a endsof the ring retaining clip 17 are bent up as at 19-19, in Fig. III, soas to be readily accessible in facilitating the removal thereof.

Centrally guided in an aperture 2.0, in the bottom of the housing shell15, of the detonator, is a plunger 21, whose inner end is reduced toform a firing pin 22. Said plunger, is operated by a disk piston 23,which is fixedthereto and adapted to slide within the housing shell. Aninterposed coiled spring 25, serves to normally thrust the pistonoutward to the position shown under the limitation imposed by theengagement of an integral flange 26, of the plunger with the back of thehousing shell.

In order to prevent accidental discharging of the bomb of the form shownin Fig. I, I have purposely recessed the detonator well within the mouthof the center bore of the casing so as to be amply protected againstforcible contact from the exterior.

In practice, as the bomb is dropped from the air craft, the action ofgravity upon the lower weighted end, together with the assistance of theguide fins, will cause the bomb to right itself and be projected in the]vertical position illustrated. It will be readily apparent, from theconstruction described, that the detonator is immune against operationby air contact. When the bomb, however, encounters water, the piston 23,will be instantaneously actuated, the induced force causing the firingpin 22, to discharge the cartridge. The smoke resulting from thedetonation will escape readily from the rear open end of the casing andbypass through. open center 6, of the tail. The volume offlame or flashfrom the explosion is visible (especially at night) in its entire massin the open center of the tail, instead of a mere quarter thereof, aswould be the case with a tail without open center. By the visual signalthus produced, the

aviator may readily ascertain the accuracy of his aim.

By a slight modification which is illustrated in Fig. IV, the bomb isrendered capable of detonation by direct impact in encountering anysolid object in addition to the characteristic features of my inventionmay be incorporated in other explosive projectile structures withoutdeparting from its spirit.

It is also to be noted that the detonating device, which I haveinvented, is in the form of a self contained unit capable ofinterchangeability and readily detachable from This insures positheprojectile with, which it may be incorporated.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim:

1. An explosive projectile comprising a tapered casing weighted at theforward,

end; in combination with a guide tail'consisting of a series of finsanchored in radial' slots cut 1n the rear end of said casing and 3. Anexplosive projectile comprising a casing centrally bored to receive acartridge; a detonating mechanism closing the forward end of the casingbore; and a guide tail having an open center in continuation of the openend of the casing bore so that the products of the explosion may readilyescape to produce a visual'signal whose flash is visible in its entiremass.

4. An explosive projectile comprising a casing bored from end to end andfreely open at its rear end; a detonating mechanism in the bore exposedfor actuation at the forward end of said casing; an explosive charge inthe bore of said casing; and a guide tail for said projectile over therear end of said bore permitting free escape of the products ofexplosion to afford a visual signal. I

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, this twenty-first day of January, 1919.

LOUIS S. CLARKE. Witnesses JAMEs H. BELL, E. L. FULLERTON.

